Role of Substance P in an NC/Nga Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis-Like Disease

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) can be exacerbated or induced in genetically predisposed individuals by psychological stress, which causes the release of substance P (SP). Therefore, SP may play an etiological role in the mechanisms underlying AD. Methods: Changes in the number of mast cells and SP-containing mast cells in lesional skin, and the serum concentrations of SP and IgE during the development of AD-like disease up to 8 weeks after the start of picryl chloride (PiCl) induction in NC/Nga mice were examined. Results: Clinical signs and symptoms seen in PiCl-treated NC/Nga mice as a model of AD-like disease began with erythema and haemorrhage, followed by oedema, superficial erosion, deep excoriation, scaling and dryness of the skin, as well as retarded growth, and the changes were exacerbated with an increase in the number of PiCl applications. An increase in the number of mast cells and eosinophil infiltration was observed in the lesional skin. The increase in SP-positive mast cells in the dermis in this model was significant from 1 week after the start of induction treatment, compared with intact mice, and SP-positive nerve fibres were observed in the dermis. Conclusion: SP is a crucial mediator of both dermatitis and scratching behaviour in this model.

Inhibitory Effects of Saururus chinensis (LOUR.) BAILL on the Development of Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions in NC/Nga Mice

“…[24][25][26] In accordance with this previous finding, the clinical skin severity in control group increased gradually depending on the times of challenge with PiCl and reached a maximum on the 63rd day after the sensitization. All of the mice in control group exhibited AD-like skin lesions including eczema, erythema, excoriation and hemorrhage in the face, dryness, scaling and alopecia in the neck and dorsal skin ( Fig.…”

“…The total scores of the skin severity are defined as the sum of the individual score grades from score 0 (no symptoms), score 1 (mild), score 2 (moderate), and score 3 (severe) for each of the following 4 signs and symptoms, erythema (hemorrhage), edema, excoriation (erosion), and dryness (scaling). [25][26][27] Histological Study Mice were sacrificed on the 63rd day after sensitization. The auricular skin was removed, fixed in 10% formalin, embedded into paraffin, cut in 10-mm sections, stained with hematoxylin-eosin solution.…”

“…21,22) Recently, it has also been shown that NC/Nga mice develop AD-like skin lesions after repeated application of hapten under SPF 24,25) In this study we used the hapten-induced dermatitis model since repeated hapten (picryl chloride, PiCl) treatment causes apparent dermatitis in 100% of NC/Nga mice. 22,[24][25][26] In the present study, we measured skin severity, histological study, itching behavior, serum IgE level, IFN-g and IL-4 levels in lymph nodes to examine inhibitory effects of SC on the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.…”

Effects of Anti-Nerve Growth Factor Antibody on Symptoms in the NC/Nga Mouse, an Atopic Dermatitis Model

“…Other mediators, such as substance P, are believed to play important roles in the symptoms observed in NC / Nga mice and humans. Substance P is reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of human atopic dermatitis (16,40,41), and some authors have suggested using in vivo models (42,43).…”

Acupuntura en dermatitis atópica y mecanismos neuroinmumonológicos. Actualización

“…Se ha observado que la sustancia P (neuropéptido) se encuentra involucrado en la activación y regulación de la respuesta inmune innata y la adaptativa y sus niveles están aumentados en piel y en sangre de los pacientes que padecen DA, así como alteraciones en las células dendríticas (células presentadoras de antígeno: APC) especialmente las células de Langerhans y las células dendríticas epidér-micas inflamatorias (6,23,24).…”